National Republican., 1887-01-10
PanamanIan Patriots.

A recent number of the Star dl3 Herdh,
published at Panama, announces that the
government OF Colombia has issued decree
seriously affecting the liberty OF the press.
This tyrannical decree is pregnant with evil
signs. 1t is public confession in the form
of an ordinance that the present admnlstra-
tiCn Goes not feel strong enough To bear
reasonable criticism, and that it is pro.
fouudly solicitous of the popular feeling IN
Panama favorable to sundering the ties
which places the neck Of the isthmus vlrtu.
ally under the yoke Of the Colombian re-
public.
About two months ago the government OF
Colombia was startled by grave rumors
from Beupaventura, which led them to be.
litve that revolution had broken out
there, and they dispatched their guuboat
Boyaca to the scene OF disorder; but, to
avoid causing alarm, they announced that
the war ship had gone to Esmeraldas,
Ecuador to protect Colombian interests.
Great secrecy is observed In all the move
ments made by the government, and, in
order TO keep the dissatisfied elements still
more ignorant of the course Of events, a
new and crlppling gag is placed upon the
press Of the country OF such severity as to
virtually silence comment and destroy what
little freedom there was left.
This tyrannical procedure has only in
tensificd the opposition to the government,
and at present the state Of public feeling /,
Panama is one of great uneaslness, which
condition Of things becomes alarming
..l., -. a a. A.
Of the inhabitants Of the isthmus desire
separation and the re. establishment OF the
Independence OF the eXtIngulshed state
Panama. They have no more affection 70 :
the government at Bogota than the Poles
had forty years ago for their heartless and
unreasonable masters in the palace OF the
RomanofTs, on the borders OF the Neva
They would strike tomorrow for lndepen-
dence II they possessed arms and munitions
Of war, and felt sure that the United States
would not interfere and aid their masters
TO force them back into political thraldon
which is equally as hateful to them as is
personal slavery to the intelligent serf.
There Is little cloud rising slowly above
The Venezuelan political horizon which the
Panam0nians are watching as the migI
watched the star OF Bethlehem, That
prosperous republic is gradually crystal
lizing a plan to bring Colombia and Ecua-
dor under control, and the patriots of
Panama are waiting patiently for Vene-
zuela to consummate her scheme In the
hopes that In the general upsettlng which
would follow they might be able TO sever
the hated bonds that chain them to South
America.
Thoughtful men high in the ranks OF the
dominant party consider the new press Law
an outrage, and look upon It as one OF the
mauy signs that the present government
has not sufficient wisdom to be permanent,
and II seems 10 be In no sense a govern-
ment OF the people, by the people, and for
the people. Such measures as this press
gag, the odlous salt monopoly, and the
burdensome tax laws are assisting to
weaken any lingering attachment and re.
epect which the Isthmians may have for
the republic of Colombia.
Superficial observers might, by the silence
OF the people, think differently, but they
must not forget that II is silence born of
fear and doubt. When men feel that they
dare not question the acts of their rulers
the enforced quiet breeds discomfort and
often leads to the commitment of rash acts
on sudden impulse. The government OF
Colombia viii learn this undying truth in
the near future, but 1t will probably learn 1t
too late, as II has often done in the past
In view Of the guarantees OF the United